When scanning my mind for Disney tips to share, I couldn’t help but ponder all the knowledge I’ve gained from my numerous trips to visit The Mouse. What would I offer that has not already been offered? You have already been given a wealth of information from our awesome writers here at The Affordable Mouse. So my main tips, from me to you, are very simple:
As you count down the days until vacation, the excitement grows, as does the anxiety, as you begin to think about all you’ll be leaving behind. This is especially true if you’re a first time Disney traveler, and it can become quite stressful. Allow me to offer some suggestions and solutions for some of those potential problems:
Welcome to our special “Disney Memories Week and Giveaway”! This week, while I’m on vacation, we are celebrating Disney’s year long “Let the Memories Begin” theme: each day, one of our great writers will share a favorite Disney memory….and will provide you with a chance to win a $50 Disney gift card. From now until Sunday July 10, you will have up to 2 chances to enter each day by commenting on the blog post and/or our Facebook page. The more days/times you comment, the more chances you have to win. (But please, to be fair to everyone: only ONE blog entry and ONE Facebook entry per person per day…)
Please note: ONE winner will be selected from all who enter by midnight ET, on Sunday, July 10. Good luck….and Let the Memories Begin!
It started out like any other southern, balmy, September morning in Florida. I had vacationed at Walt Disney World many times, both as a child and as an adult, and had many great experiences. It has always been my favorite place on Earth, but this particular day, it would become even more special, this day would change the rest of my life. Read more
JAMBO, EVERYONE!!!! The latest addition to the Walt Disney World parks is Animal Kingdom – the gateway to all things 4-legged! The animals there graze and snack away all day long, and I am no different!! Although AK is my LEAST favorite of the parks, it is my 1st choice for snacks. Due to the heat of the Florida summers, it is best to keep your snacks light & cool when visiting this park, and with all of their great choices, this is not hard to do. Read more
Ahhh, the lazy days of summer – I WISH THEY WOULD GET HERE ALREADY!! It’s been unusually cold here in southern Mississippi…….I wonder how warm and nice the weather is in the Caribbean this time of year?
Speaking of the Caribbean, when you place that word in the same sentence as “Disney”, you have just gained my full attention. There’s just something about those 2 words spoken together that gets me all giddy. First, there’s a chance you’re referring to my FAVE ride of all time, Pirates of the Caribbean. Love the ride, can’t wait for the 4th movie to come out with the talented Mr. Depp.
Yo Ho, Yo Ho….well, you know the rest.
Then there’s the possibility you are referring to Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort (CB) – my favorite place in all the “World” to stay. It is a vacation inside of a vacation. The rooms are nice – the property….even nicer. At 200 sprawling acres, with a 45 acre lake, it is the largest resort in all of Walt Disney World. It is so spread out, you will, at times, feel you are there all alone, and who doesn’t want that?!!?!?!?
The shops are fantastic, the food court is wonderful, the rooms are great, and some have recently been upgraded to feature a “pirates theme”, including pirate ship beds. Behind the shops/food court is a large patio, complete with umbrella tables and chairs, overlooking the lake. There are also various spots around the lake complete with sand and hammock for some quiet relaxation time, or water craft rentals for some time out on the water.
Now what makes Caribbean Beach (CB) better than a value resort (VR)? Well, I’ve stayed in both, so I will give you the MOST VALUABLE differences, in my humble opinion…..
1) BUS STOPS:
VR – stand in a central herding stall rope line out in the Florida heat, waiting on your bus to arrive. At the parks, you will walk allllll the way to the very end of the bus stations to catch your particular bus, doesn’t sound like a big deal, but on Day 2, when your calves are screaming for mercy at the end of the day – BIG DEAL, trust me.
CB – covered pavilion with benches to sit on, ceiling fans & drink machines while you wait. Each section of the resort has it’s own bus stop, so no walking forever to one centralized locale. At the parks, you’re closer to the front of the bus stations, which equals less walking, which equals less of a chance that you will snap and someone will be seriously injured after they’ve complained they didn’t get to ride Space Mountain that 5th time that you promised them.
2) ROOMS:
VR – The basics. Two beds, a bathroom, a small table & chairs, smaller room, and Mickey soap. And it can be a long walk to the front of the resort to get to the pools, food courts, and to catch the bus.
CB – Stretch out roomy. Two beds, a bathroom with TWO sinks (what guy traveling with chicks isn’t happy about that?) a decent sized table with chairs, a refrigerator, a TV armoire with additional storage underneath, lush tropical landscapes, and again, closely located bus stops just a stone’s throw from your front door. You can stop trying to pronouce “armoire” now.
3) POOLS:
VR – Usually two of them, often full to capacity (thanks to all those “special rates”) & often loud.
CB – Big & roomy with water slides. Beautifully built and much quieter than VR. At your request, you can be far enough away that you can’t hear the noise from the pool.
This is, by far, the quietest resort in which we’ve ever stayed. Even the lobby is better in CB. Everything’s better there. We decided to “venture out” and stay at Coronado Springs last time. We realized quickly we were spoiled to CB, spent most of the time comparing and feeling that, for us, CS could not stand up to CB…..
If you can spring for the upgrade from value (usually around $30 per night extra), this resort is worth it’s weight in gold – or should I say, golden silence. There’s not too much relaxing to be had inside the parks. Isn’t it worth it to have that quiet tropical feel in the evening? Yo Ho, Yo Ho……a quiet time for me!
DeAnna, along with her husband and teen-age son, lives in Wiggins, Mississippi, and has a passion for all things Disney. She is always eager to share the knowledge she has gained from her many trips to Walt Disney World, and has helped numerous people in their vacation planning to realize it’s not an unattainable dream. Her must-dos on every trip are Pirates of the Caribbean, Rockin’ Roller Coaster & a stolen moment of quiet with her “Boyz” (as she affectionately calls them) having a pastry from Boulangerie in Epcot World Showcase’s France. Disney is so much a part of her life, that she & her husband were married in front of Cinderella’s Castle, and she says it doesn’t get any more magical than that………